Rachel Ford introduced the program of Interact and Rotaract clubs.
She began by reading the report from UT Rotaract President Jack Huskey, who wrote that his goal for the year was to obtain more members and get more people involved in leadership in the club. “I am hopeful that this goal will be achieved,” he wrote. “To begin the academic year, we tabled on Pedestrian Walkway in August during the Student Engagement Fair to get the word out about our club. This recruited people and led others to join. The next event we did was at the end of September when we went to the TV Valley Fair. This allowed members to meet and bond with each other in a relaxed, fun environment. Throughout October, we volunteered at Boo at the Zoo. The last event we did in the fall semester was the Thanksgiving dinner at the International House. This led to a lot of engagement with people in our club with international students. We always love helping with this event every year! Another very important factor that happened in the fall semester was recruiting our president-elect, Candace Brown. I am confident she will lead the club well next year!
“For the spring semester we met as a board to plan events. We started to have service events at our regular meetings as more of an incentive for people to come. At our first meeting, we made cards for the Knox Area Rescue Ministries while giving people information about upcoming events, which was a success! In February we started volunteering monthly at Smokey’s Pantry, where we helped with sign-in and handing out items to people. We also volunteered at an International House event in February that was a cultural showcase of Bangladesh. In March we volunteered at a Rotary event in Farragut helping build beds for youth who may not have access to beds. The main event happening in April is the Alzheimer’s Walk that we are a team in. We are raising money for it by tabling on the Ped Walkway selling Dunkin Donuts, which the Rotary Club is graciously providing for us. Thank you to Dave Baumgartner! To finish up the semester, we are volunteering at Smokey’s Pantry again and voting on the new board for the next school year, I will work to make this transition as smooth as possible for Candace and the new officers. Thank you, Rotary, for an amazing year and all your support!
Next, Michael Gaut of the Community Rotaract reported on their two fundraisers, Pint Night and the Golf Tournament. “We’re down in attendance and membership,” he reported. “We’re raising $5,000 to $8,000 a year.
Phil Petree of the Knoxville Catholic High School club said that they have 12 members, many of whom are seniors. On August 31, they took part in the HonorAir Preflight Breakfast at Bridgewater Center. On September 6 they took part in the KCHS club fair. They rang bells with the Salvation Army at West Town Mall, and on KCHS’s out-of-uniform day they had an in-house fundraiser for victims of Hurricane Helene. At the school Open House they talked with parents about what they had to offer. At a donut breakfast they wrote cards and letters of thanks to service members offering “A million thanks.”
Carol Hill introduced the Webb Middle Schoolers. Bryan Bowman talked about the Coat Drive, that donated 127 coats to KARM. They read the graphic novel “Sunshine” by Jerrett Krosoczka about working at a camp for children with serious illnesses, and on “Change for Change” drive they raised $1,467.82 for Ronald McDonald House .
Ellie Kate talked about their Super Bowl Challenge that gathered 1,200 cans and 517 meals for Second Harvest.
Alex talked about raising $812.25 (matched by our $500) at the Sleep in Heavenly Peace bake sale.
On ERB test day, they offer everyone mints to inspire calmness, and they offer thanks to their teachers on Teacher Appreciation Day.
Preston Dreiser gave a speech that he had given at morning assembly about Rotary, linking it to his annual tradition of watching It’s A Wonderful Life and thinking about the impact we can have on the lives of others. “Each of us are given our own opportunities in which we can find meaningful ways to impact others, including volunteering, getting a new attitude by showing gratitude, and practicing kindness. Participating in the Interact Club is a way of practicing kindness, providing water and supplies to the victims of Hurricane Helene, donating winter coats, writing 300 letters to veterans, and building beds for Sleep in Heavenly Peace. In It’s A Wonderful Life, a bell would ring every time an angel did a good deed. I challenge you to make a bell ring by your good works. Rotarians, thank you for your help to Knoxville. If you listen closely you’ hear lots of bells ringing. Because of your efforts, angels are getting their wings.”
Hemal Tailor, coordinator of the Webb High School Interact Club, said that Preston’s speech was a tough act to follow and offered a thank you to Rotary and to Liz Gregor, who will be taking over next year, and said of her students, “They’ve taken over.”
Andrew Tomczak said the partnership with Rotary “means so much.”
Eleanor Bookstaff talked about writing fan letters to Honor Air participants and attending RYLA.
Gabriel Little talked about planting 1,200 onions at the Concord United Methodist Church Community Garden and the Interact Bowl Fundraising event at Cosmic Bowling for Ukraine on World Rotary Day. He spoke of making a change on the Webb campus by placing rocks with positive messages and by bringing an outside perspective.
Eleanor talked about getting a speaker about Parkinson’s Disease, and their effort on April 1 to build 54 full beds at the Sleep in Heavenly Peace event.